Partition sweep assembly

ABSTRACT

A folding accordion sweep partition assembly is presented. The partition has a plurality of partition panels, the panel having a front face, a rear face, a bottom edge, and two opposing open sided panel keyway channels. A hinge having two side walls, the side wall terminating in a hinge key hinges two panels by having a first hinge key slidably received and retained in a first partition panel keyway channel and a second hinge key slidably received and retained in a second partition panel keyway channel. The partition panel has a mounting bracket affixed to it, a bottom bracket removably retained to the mounting bracket, and a sweep affixed to the mounting bracket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/958,829, filed Dec. 2, 2010, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety, including but not limited to thoseportions that specifically appear hereinafter, the incorporation byreference being made with the following exception: In the event that anyportion of the above-referenced application is inconsistent with thisapplication, this application supercedes said above-referencedapplication.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. The Field of the Present Disclosure

This invention relates generally to sliding doors and in particular, toa sweep assembly used with a side folding accordion partition.

2. Background of the Invention

Side folding accordion partitions are used to provide space separation,often with the additional goal of providing one or more of securityseparation and sound control.

Panels which form the partition are hinged to one another and attachedto ball bearing rollers which ride within a mounted overhead track. Alead panel is attached to a lead post which in turn is attached to atrolley having ball bearing rollers which also rides within the overheadtrack. Either a powered, or more commonly, a manually operated trolleyprovides the mechanical action required to open and close the partition.

When the partition is activated, the ball bearing rollers and lead posttrolley roll in the overhead track causing the partition to traverseopen or closed. The partition may or may not be slidably mounted to afloor channel. A partition slidably mounted to a floor channel ensuresthat the partition remains in the vertical thereby keeping the sweep atthe bottom of the partition in contact with the floor. The floor channelprovides lateral stability to the door curtain during travel towards oraway from the closed position.

Certain applications require a contiguous floor surface, that is,unbroken by a floor channel. Examples include shop floors where achannel could interfere with roiling carts or emergency egress laneswhere a floor channel could create a tripping hazard. In thosesituations, door assemblies that do not mount the partition to a floorchannel are utilized.

Regardless of whether or not a floor channel is utilized, the sweep atthe bottom of the partition is used to maintain a predeterminedrelationship to the floor, thereby, for example, helping to controlsound.

Known designs for mounting the sweep to the partition leave anunfinished, sharp surface as further described below. Accordingly, thereis still a continuing need for improved designs for mounting the sweepto a partition. The present invention fulfills this need by presenting anovel sweep assembly and further provides related advantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sweep assembly used in conjunction witha partition panel. The sweep assembly comprises a sweep affixed to amounting bracket which is mounted to a partition panel. A bottom bracketfit to the partition panel and mounting bracket provides for a finishedsurface.

One advantage of the novel sweep assembly is the finished fit providesfor a more attractive look.

A second advantage of the novel sweep assembly is the reduced chance forinjury due to the absence of unfinished edges.

A third advantage is the ease in which field repairs can be made.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following more detailed description of the preferredembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whichillustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporatedin and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or moreembodiments of the present invention, and together with the description,serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a known partition panel,partition hinge, mounting bracket, and sweep prior to assembly.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the partition panel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 1 prior to hingeplacement.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the hinge and mounting bracket of FIG. 1 afterhinge placement.

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of the partition panel, partitionhinge, mounting bracket, bottom bracket and sweep of one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the bottom bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the bottom bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the bottom bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is an end view of the hinge of FIG. 6.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the sweep of FIG. 6.

FIG. 15 is an end view of the partition panel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a partition comprising the panels andsweep assembly of FIG. 6 spanning an opening.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following more detailed description of the preferredembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whichillustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, a detailed embodiment of the present invention isdisclosed; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentis merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousforms. The figures are not necessary to scale, and some features may beexaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention. Where possible, like reference numeralshave been used to refer to like parts in the several alternativeembodiments of the present invention described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a known sweep assembly is described to betterappreciate the novel features of the invention. Mounting bracket PA-4 isfixed to partition panel PA-6 with rivet PA-8 during the partition panelmanufacturing process. Panel PA-6 comprises two open sided panel keywaychannels PA-10 each of which receives a hinge PA-12. Hinge PA-12 ismanufactured from a flexible material having two side walls eachterminating in a key PA-14 to be slidably received and retained in apanel keyway channel PA-10, thereby hinging two partition panels PA-6together.

Mounting bracket PA-4 comprises two wings PA-22 extending from themounting bracket main body PA-24, and a mounting bracket keyway channelPA-16 on its front side to slidably receive a sweep key PA-18 located onthe rear side of sweep PA-20.

A plurality of partition panels PA-6 and hinges PA-12 are assembledduring the manufacturing process and shipped pre-assembled foradditional modification during installation. A plurality ofpre-assembled partitions are then hinged together in the field to createa finished partition of required width to fit an opening (not shown).When field assembling the pre-assembled partitions, mounting bracketwings PA-22 must be broken off to expose the panel keyway channel PA-10in order to slide hinge PA-12 into panel keyway channel PA-10. Once thewings have been broken off, there remains a sharp unfinished mountingbracket edge. This sharp, unfinished edge may present a safety hazard aswell as being unsightly.

Turning now to FIGS. 6-10 representing a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, mounting bracket 4 comprises a mounting bracketkeyway channel 16 on a first side and a rivet receiving orifice 26.Optionally, a rivet orifice protrusion 28 extends from the mountingbracket second side a distance sufficient to contact the partition panel6 when partition panel 6 is not a flat panel. A mounting bracket bottomedge 30 is in contact with the bottom edge of the partition panel 6 andprevents the rotation of mounting bracket 4 around rivet 8, used toattach the mounting bracket 4 to the partition panel 6. The mountingbracket bottom edge 30 is received by a bottom bracket 40, described indetail below.

The partition panel 6 (FIG. 6) is of known design, comprising a rivetreceiving orifice 32 and two open sided panel keyway channels 10, eachfor receiving a hinge 12. Hinge 12 (FIG. 13) is of known design, forexample, manufactured from a flexible material having two side walls,each side wall terminating in a hinge key 14 which is slidably receivedand retained in a partition panel keyway channel 10 of a first andsecond partition panel, thereby hinging the two partition panels 6together. An optional flanged hinge stop 34 is fixed to the bottom endof each hinge side wall key 14, for example by crimping, to prevent thehinge 12 from slidably displacing upward.

The sweep 20 (FIG. 14) is of known design, comprising a flexiblematerial having a sweep key 18 on a first side to be slidably receivedby the mounting bracket keyway channel 16.

The bottom bracket 40 (FIGS. 10-12) comprises a front side 42 and abottom 44. The inner side 46 of bottom 44 is manufactured to removablyreceive and retain mounting bracket bottom edge 30, for example, by snapfit. The bottom bracket 40 is of predetermined width and shape to coverthe end of both of the partition panel keyway channels 10 and to havethe front side 42 extend upward onto the panel front face.

The mounting bracket 4 is attached to the partition panel 6 by a rivet8. The mounting bracket bottom edge 30 is in contact with the bottomedge of the partition panel 6, thereby preventing rotation of themounting bracket around the rivet 8. The mounting bracket 4 does notcover panel keyway channels 10. Therefore, mounting bracket 4 does notrequire field modification to allow hinge 12 to be slidably insertedinto panel keyway channel 10 as the partition 50 (either individually oras factory pre-assembled partition sections) (FIG. 16) is being fieldassembled. Once hinges 12 have been inserted into the partition panel 6,bottom bracket 40 is snap fit onto mounting bracket bottom edge 30,thereby providing finished edges that completely span the face of thepartition panel 6 and cover the partition panel channel 10 openings. Thesnap fit allows for easy and convenient field replacement or repair ofhinge 12 or partition panel 6.

Following assembly of the number of partition panels (eitherindividually or as factory pre-assembled partition panels) needed toform a partition 50 of required width to span an opening (FIG. 16), thesweep 20 is attached to the partition 50 by slidably inserting the sweepkey 18 into each mounting bracket keyway channel 16. The partitionpanels are operatively engaged in an overhead track 52 mounted to thespan opening in known fashion. Such operative engagement is well knownand need not be described in detail.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withspecific examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art willrecognize that the present invention is capable of other variations andmodifications within its scope. The example and embodiment is intendedas typical of, rather than in any way limiting on, the scope of thepresent invention as presented in the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. (canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled) 14.(canceled)
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled)19. (canceled)
 20. (canceled)
 21. A folding accordion partitioncomprising: a plurality of partition panels, each panel comprising afront face, an opposing rear face, a bottom edge, and two opposing opensided panel keyway channels, each keyway channel having a bottomterminating end; a hinge comprising two side walls, each side wallterminating in a hinge key, a first hinge key slidably received andretained in a first partition panel keyway channel and a second hingekey slidably received and retained in a second partition panel keywaychannel, thereby hinging the two partition panels; the plurality ofpartition panels including a first partition panel having a bracketaffixed thereon; a sweep affixed to the bracket; wherein the bracketcomprises: a bottom edge and a first surface having a keyway channel; abottom surface extending from the bottom edge, such that the bottomsurface covers the bottom terminating ends of the two opposing panelkeyway channels; and, a front surface extending upward from the bottomsurface, such that the front surface extends over the front face of thefirst partition panel.
 22. The partition of claim 21, wherein the frontsurface of the bracket includes a substantially planar central portion,a rounded first end and rounded second end.
 23. The partition of claim21, wherein the bracket further comprises a rivet orifice protrusionprotruding from a second surface, opposite the first surface, to contactthe first partition.
 24. The partition of claim 21, wherein the bracketis affixed to the first panel with a rivet.
 25. The partition of claim21, wherein the front surface of the bracket includes a substantiallyplanar central portion, a first end and second end, wherein the firstand second ends of the front surface extend in direction that is notcoplanar with the central portion of the front surface.
 26. Thepartition of claim 21, wherein the first surface of the bracket has atotal length in a horizontal direction that is less than a total lengthin the horizontal direction of the front surface of the bracket.
 27. Thepartition of claim 21, wherein the first surface of the bracket has atotal height in a vertical direction that is more than a total height inthe vertical direction of the front surface of the bracket.
 28. Afolding accordion partition comprising: a first panel and a secondpanel, each panel comprising, a front face, an opposing rear face, abottom edge, and two opposing open sided panel keyway channels, eachkeyway channel having a bottom terminating end; a hinge comprising twoside walls, each side wall terminating in a hinge key, a first hinge keyslidably received and retained in a panel keyway channel of the firstpanel and a second hinge key slidably received and retained in a keywaychannel of the second panel, thereby hinging the first and secondpanels; a bracket affixed to the first panel; a sweep affixed to thebracket; wherein the bracket comprises: a first surface having a keywaychannel; a bottom edge; a bottom surface extending from the bottom edgein a direction opposite to the first surface; and, a front surfaceextending upward from the bottom surface, such that the front surfaceextends over the front face of the first panel.
 29. The partition ofclaim 28, wherein the bracket further comprises a rivet orificeprotrusion protruding from a second surface, opposite the first surface,to contact the first partition.
 30. The partition of claim 28, whereinthe bottom surface covers the bottom terminating ends of the twoopposing panel keyway channels of the first panel.
 31. The partition ofclaim 28, wherein the front surface of the bracket includes asubstantially planar central portion, a rounded first end and roundedsecond end.
 32. The partition of claim 28, wherein the bracket isaffixed to the first panel with a rivet.
 33. The partition of claim 28,wherein the front surface of the bracket includes a substantially planarcentral portion, a first end and second end, wherein the first andsecond ends of the front surface extend in a direction that is notcoplanar with the central portion of the front surface.
 34. Thepartition of claim 28, wherein the first surface of the bracket has atotal length in a horizontal direction that is less than a total lengthin the horizontal direction of the front surface of the bracket.
 35. Thepartition of claim 28, wherein the first surface of the bracket has atotal height in a vertical direction that is more than a total height inthe vertical direction of the front surface of the bracket.
 36. Afolding accordion partition comprising: a first panel and a secondpanel, each panel comprising, a front face, an opposing rear face, abottom edge, and two opposing open sided panel keyway channels, eachkeyway channel having a bottom terminating end; a hinge comprising twoside walls, each side wall terminating in a hinge key, a first hinge keyslidably received and retained in a panel keyway channel of the firstpanel and a second hinge key slidably received and retained in a keywaychannel of the second panel, thereby hinging the first and secondpanels; a bracket affixed to the first panel; a sweep affixed to thebracket; therein the bracket comprises: a first surface having a keywaychannel; a bottom edge; a bottom surface extending from the bottom edgein a direction opposite to the first side surface; and, a front surfaceextending upward from the bottom surface, wherein the first surface ofthe bracket has a total length in a horizontal direction that is lessthan a total length in the horizontal direction of the front surface ofthe bracket.
 37. The partition of claim 36, wherein the bracket furthercomprises a rivet orifice protruding from a second side, opposite thefirst side, to contact the first partition.
 38. The partition of claim36, wherein the bottom surface covers the bottom terminating ends of thetwo opposing panel keyway channels of the first panel.
 39. The partitionof claim 36, wherein the front surface of the bracket includes asubstantially planar central portion, a rounded first end and roundedsecond end.
 40. The partition of claim 36, wherein the bracket isaffixed to the first panel with a rivet.
 41. The partition of claim 36,wherein the front surface of the bracket includes a substantially planarcentral portion, a first end and second end, wherein the first andsecond ends of the front surface extend in a direction that is notcoplanar with the central portion of the front surface.
 42. Thepartition of claim 36, wherein the front surface of the bracket extendsover the front face of the first panel.
 43. The partition of claim 36,wherein the first surface of the bracket has a total height in avertical direction that is more than a total height in the verticaldirection of the front surface of the bracket.